Critical Edition
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच सर्वैर्गुणैर्महाराज राजसूयं त्वमर्हसि जानतस्त्वेव ते सर्वं किंचिद्वक्ष्यामि भारत
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O great king, you are endued with all accomplishments, and you are worthy of performing the Rajasuya. O descendant of Bharata, you know everything, (therefore) I shall tell you only something. were
जामदग्न्येन रामेण क्षत्रं यदवशेषितम् तस्मादवरजं लोके यदिदं क्षत्रसंज्ञितम्
M. N. Dutt: The men now know as Kshatriyas are inferior to those Kshatriyas that exterminated by Rama, the son of Jamadagni.
कृतोऽयं कुलसंकल्पः क्षत्रियैर्वसुधाधिप निदेशवाग्भिस्तत्ते ह विदितं भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O lord of earth, O best of the Bharata race, you are aware of the rules that those Kshatriyas established amongst their order, guided by the traditions (coming down from generations to generations).
ऐलस्येक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य प्रकृतिं परिचक्षते राजानः श्रेणिबद्धाश्च ततोऽन्ये क्षत्रिया भुवि
M. N. Dutt: All the numerous royal dynasties and other Kshatriyas in the world claim to be descended from Aila and Ikshaku,
ऐलवंश्यास्तु ये राजंस्तथैवेक्ष्वाकवो नृपाः तानि चैकशतं विद्धि कुलानि भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O king, O best of the Bharata race the monarchs (the descendants) of Aila and those of Ikshaku became divided into one hundred separate dynasties.
ययातेस्त्वेव भोजानां विस्तरोऽतिगुणो महान् भजते च महाराज विस्तरः स चतुर्दिशम्
M. N. Dutt: O great king, the descendants of Yayati and the Bhoja are also great in birth number and accomplishments. They are scattered in all directions.
तेषां तथैव तां लक्ष्मीं सर्वक्षत्रमुपासते सोऽवनीं मध्यमां भुक्त्वा मिथोभेदेष्वमन्यत
AI Translation: They, too, worshipped that same Lakshmi, the entire Kshatriya class. Having enjoyed the middle earth, he became indifferent to mutual dissensions.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.7 After 7ab, Ñ1 V1 B D ins.: *154 इदानीमेव वै राजञ्जरासंधो महीपतिः अभिभूय श्रियं तेषां कुलानामभिषेचितः स्थितो मूर्ध्नि नरेन्द्राणामोजसाक्रम्य सर्वशः
चतुर्युस्त्वपरो राजा यस्मिन्नेकशतोऽभवत् स साम्राज्यं जरासंधः प्राप्तो भवति योनितः
AI Translation: The next king was Caturyu, in whose time there were one hundred kings. Jarāsandha attained the empire by birth.
तं स राजा महाप्राज्ञ संश्रित्य किल सर्वशः राजन्सेनापतिर्जातः शिशुपालः प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: That king, the very wise one, having resorted to him in every way, O king, became the general, the powerful Shishupala.
तमेव च महाराज शिष्यवत्समुपस्थितः वक्रः करूषाधिपतिर्मायायोधी महाबलः
AI Translation: And he, the king, approached him like a disciple, The crooked king of the Karūṣas, the magician, the mighty warrior,
अपरौ च महावीर्यौ महात्मानौ समाश्रितौ जरासंधं महावीर्यं तौ हंसडिभकावुभौ
AI Translation: and two other very powerful and great souls have taken refuge in him. Those two, Hamsa and Dibi, are very powerful and have taken refuge in Jarasandha.
दन्तवक्रः करूषश्च कलभो मेघवाहनः मूर्ध्ना दिव्यं मणिं बिभ्रद्यं तं भूतमणिं विदुः
M. N. Dutt: Of the greatly powerful Jarasandha, namely Hansa and Dimbhaka. Dantavakra, Karusha, Karabha (also wait upon Jarasandha). He who bears on his head the gem which is knows as the most wonderful gem in the world.
मुरं च नरकं चैव शास्ति यो यवनाधिपौ अपर्यन्तबलो राजा प्रतीच्यां वरुणो यथा
M. N. Dutt: That king of the Yavanas who is chastised Mura and Naraka and who is the matchlessly powerful king of the west like a (second) Varuna.
भगदत्तो महाराज वृद्धस्तव पितुः सखा स वाचा प्रणतस्तस्य कर्मणा चैव भारत
M. N. Dutt: O great king, who is called Bhagadatta and who was your father's old friend, has also lowered his head (to Jarasandha) by his speech and specially by his acts.
स्नेहबद्धस्तु पितृवन्मनसा भक्तिमांस्त्वयि प्रतीच्यां दक्षिणं चान्तं पृथिव्याः पाति यो नृपः
M. N. Dutt: But he is in his heart tied to you by affection. He loves you as a father loves his son. The king, who has his kingdom on the west and south of the earth,
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.15 After 15, T1 G1.3.5.6 ins.: *155 ते चापि प्रणतास्तस्य महात्मानो भयार्दिताः
मातुलो भवतः शूरः पुरुजित्कुन्तिवर्धनः स ते संनतिमानेकः स्नेहतः शत्रुतापनः
M. N. Dutt: Who is your maternal uncle, that heroic Purujit, the spreader of the Kunti race, that chastiser of foes, is the only one king who is on your side.
जरासंधं गतस्त्वेवं पुरा यो न मया हतः पुरुषोत्तमविज्ञातो योऽसौ चेदिषु दुर्मतिः
AI Translation: "He who was not killed by me in the past, when I went to Jarasandha, " "That wicked one who is known as Purusottama in the Chedis,
आत्मानं प्रतिजानाति लोकेऽस्मिन्पुरुषोत्तमम् आदत्ते सततं मोहाद्यः स चिह्नं च मामकम्
AI Translation: He declares himself to be the supreme person in this world. He who always takes up the delusion, that is my mark.
वङ्गपुण्ड्रकिरातेषु राजा बलसमन्वितः पौण्ड्रको वासुदेवेति योऽसौ लोकेषु विश्रुतः
M. N. Dutt: The powerful king of Vanga, Pundra and the Kiratas who is known by the name of Pundraka and Vasudeva, (also waits upon Jarasandha).
चतुर्युः स महाराज भोज इन्द्रसखो बली विद्याबलाद्यो व्यजयत्पाण्ड्यक्रथककैशिकान्
AI Translation: The great king Bhoja, the powerful friend of Indra, had four sons. The one who was strong through the power of knowledge conquered the Pandyas, Kṛthas, and Kaikas.
भ्राता यस्याहृतिः शूरो जामदग्न्यसमो युधि स भक्तो मागधं राजा भीष्मकः परवीरहा
AI Translation: The brother of whom is Ahrīti, the hero, equal to Jamadagni's son in battle, That devotee, King Bhishmaka, the slayer of enemy heroes, the Magadha king,
प्रियाण्याचरतः प्रह्वान्सदा संबन्धिनः सतः भजतो न भजत्यस्मानप्रियेषु व्यवस्थितः
M. N. Dutt: We are his (Bhishmaka's) relatives and therefore, we are always engaged in doing what is agreeable to him. But though we respect and regard him much yet he doesn't at all regard us. He is always doing us ill.
न कुलं न बलं राजन्नभिजानंस्तथात्मनः पश्यमानो यशो दीप्तं जरासंधमुपाश्रितः
M. N. Dutt: O king, without knowing his own strength and the dignity of the race to which he belongs, he (Bhishmaka) has placed himself under Jarasandha's shelter only seeing his blazing fame.
उदीच्यभोजाश्च तथा कुलान्यष्टादशाभिभो जरासंधभयादेव प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रिताः
AI Translation: And the Udiccyas and Bhojas, and the eighteen other families, O lord, have taken refuge in the western direction out of fear of Jarasandha.
शूरसेना भद्रकारा बोधाः शाल्वाः पटच्चराः सुस्थराश्च सुकुट्टाश्च कुणिन्दाः कुन्तिभिः सह
AI Translation: The Śūrasenas, the Bhadrākaras, the Bodhas, the Śālvās, the Pataccaras, The Sustharas, the Sukuṭṭas, the Kuṇindas, with the Kuntīs,
शाल्वेयानां च राजानः सोदर्यानुचरैः सह दक्षिणा ये च पाञ्चालाः पूर्वाः कुन्तिषु कोशलाः
AI Translation: The kings of the Śālvas, together with their brothers and followers, and the southern Pañcālas, the eastern Kounteya Kośalas,
तथोत्तरां दिशं चापि परित्यज्य भयार्दिताः मत्स्याः संन्यस्तपादाश्च दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रिताः
AI Translation: And the fish, terrified, abandoned the northern direction, and, with their feet withdrawn, took refuge in the southern direction.
तथैव सर्वपाञ्चाला जरासंधभयार्दिताः स्वराष्ट्रं संपरित्यज्य विद्रुताः सर्वतोदिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Afflicted with the fear of Jarasandha all the Panchalas have left their own Kingdoms and fled in all directions.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.28 After 28, S ins.: *156 अग्रतो ह्यस्य पाञ्चालास्तत्रानीके महात्मनः अनिर्गते सारबले मागधेभ्यो गिरिव्रजात्
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कंसो निर्मथ्य बान्धवान् बार्हद्रथसुते देव्यावुपागच्छद्वृथामतिः
M. N. Dutt: Sometime before, the foolish minded Kansa, having persecuted the Yadavas married two of the daughters of the son of Brihadratha (Jarasandha).
अस्तिः प्राप्तिश्च नाम्ना ते सहदेवानुजेऽबले बलेन तेन स ज्ञातीनभिभूय वृथामतिः
M. N. Dutt: They are named Asti and Prapti and they are the sisters of Sahadeva. Strengthened by such an alliance, the fool (Kansa) persecuted his relatives and gained an ascendancy over them all.
श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्तः स तस्यासीदतीवापनयो महान् भोजराजन्यवृद्धैस्तु पीड्यमानैर्दुरात्मना
M. N. Dutt: By his such acts he earned a very bad repute. The wicked wretch persecuted the old chiefs of the Bhoja race.
ज्ञातित्राणमभीप्सद्भिरस्मत्संभावना कृता दत्त्वाक्रूराय सुतनुं तामाहुकसुतां तदा
M. N. Dutt: These chiefs sought our protection from the persecution of their relative (Kansa). Having bestowed upon Akrura the beautiful daughter of Ahuka, Satrinka.
संकर्षणद्वितीयेन ज्ञातिकार्यं मया कृतम् हतौ कंससुनामानौ मया रामेण चाप्युत
M. N. Dutt: I did a service to my relatives. Making Samkarasiana (Baladeva) my second, I killed both Kansa and Sunama with the assistance of Rama.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.33 After 33, T1 G (except G2) ins.: *157 हत्वा कंसं तथैवाजौ जरासंधस्य बिभ्यता मया रामेण चान्यत्र ज्ञातयः परिपालिताः
भये तु समुपक्रान्ते जरासंधे समुद्यते मन्त्रोऽयं मन्त्रितो राजन्कुलैरष्टादशावरैः
M. N. Dutt: O king, though the immediate cause of our fear was thus removed, yet Jarasandha (Kansa's father-in-law) took up arms. We eighteen branches of the Yadavas consulted together;
अनारमन्तो निघ्नन्तो महास्त्रैः शतघातिभिः न हन्याम वयं तस्य त्रिभिर्वर्षशतैर्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: And we came to the conclusion that even if we continually strike at our enemy with weapons capable of killing the foe, we shall not be able to do any thing of him in three hundred years.
तस्य ह्यमरसंकाशौ बलेन बलिनां वरौ नामभ्यां हंसडिभकावित्यास्तां योधसत्तमौ
AI Translation: For he had two sons, the best of the strong, resembling the gods in strength, named Hamsa and Dībhka, the best of warriors.
तावुभौ सहितौ वीरौ जरासंधश्च वीर्यवान् त्रयस्त्रयाणां लोकानां पर्याप्ता इति मे मतिः
AI Translation: Those two heroes, together with the powerful Jarasandha, I think are sufficient for the three worlds.
न हि केवलमस्माकं यावन्तोऽन्ये च पार्थिवाः तथैव तेषामासीच्च बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतां वर
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of all intelligent men, this was not only our opinion, but all the other kings were of the same opinion.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.38 After 38, S (except M2) ins.: *158 अष्टादश मया तस्य संग्रामा रोमहर्षणः दत्ता न च हतो राजञ्जरासंधो महाबलः
अथ हंस इति ख्यातः कश्चिदासीन्महान्नृपः स चान्यैः सहितो राजन्संग्रामेऽष्टादशावरैः
M. N. Dutt: There was a great king named Hansa, he was killed by Rama in a battle which lasted for eighteen days.
हतो हंस इति प्रोक्तमथ केनापि भारत तच्छ्रुत्वा डिभको राजन्यमुनाम्भस्यमज्जत
AI Translation: "O king, it is said that the swan is dead." Hearing this, the king Dībhaka jumped into the Yamuna river.
विना हंसेन लोकेऽस्मिन्नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे इत्येतां मतिमास्थाय डिभको निधनं गतः
AI Translation: Without the swan, I do not wish to live in this world. Having made this resolve, the crane died.
तथा तु डिभकं श्रुत्वा हंसः परपुरंजयः प्रपेदे यमुनामेव सोऽपि तस्यां न्यमज्जत
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon when that subjugator of hostile cities, Hansa heard what Dimbhaka had done, he too went to the Yamuna, jumped into its water and drowned himself.
तौ स राजा जरासंधः श्रुत्वाप्सु निधनं गतौ स्वपुरं शूरसेनानां प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, when Jarasandha heard of the death of the two heroes, he returned to his city with an empty heart.
ततो वयममित्रघ्न तस्मिन्प्रतिगते नृपे पुनरानन्दिताः सर्वे मथुरायां वसामहे
M. N. Dutt: O slayer of all foes, on the departure of the King (Jarasandha), we were filled with great joy, and we continued to live at Mathura.
यदा त्वभ्येत्य पितरं सा वै राजीवलोचना कंसभार्या जरासंधं दुहिता मागधं नृपम्
AI Translation: When the lotus-eyed one approached her father, the wife of Kamsa, the daughter of the king of Magadha, Jarasandha,
चोदयत्येव राजेन्द्र पतिव्यसनदुःखिता पतिघ्नं मे जहीत्येवं पुनः पुनररिंदम
AI Translation: She is urging you, O lord of kings, who are afflicted by the sorrow of the loss of her husband, "saying, ""O destroyer of enemies, release me who have killed my husband,"" again and again.
ततो वयं महाराज तं मन्त्रं पूर्वमन्त्रितम् संस्मरन्तो विमनसो व्यपयाता नराधिप
AI Translation: Then, O great king, we, remembering that former mantra, we, the distressed men, departed, O king.
पृथक्त्वेन द्रुता राजन्संक्षिप्य महतीं श्रियम् प्रपतामो भयात्तस्य सधनज्ञातिबान्धवाः
AI Translation: O king, we have abandoned our great prosperity and have fled, each one of us, out of fear of him, along with our wealth, relatives and kinsmen.
इति संचिन्त्य सर्वे स्म प्रतीचीं दिशमाश्रिताः कुशस्थलीं पुरीं रम्यां रैवतेनोपशोभिताम्
AI Translation: Having thus reflected, we all resorted to the western direction, The beautiful city of Kuśasthali, adorned by Raivata.
पुनर्निवेशनं तस्यां कृतवन्तो वयं नृप तथैव दुर्गसंस्कारं देवैरपि दुरासदम्
AI Translation: We have again established ourselves in that city, O king, and have fortified it in such a way that even the gods cannot easily approach it.
स्त्रियोऽपि यस्यां युध्येयुः किं पुनर्वृष्णिपुंगवाः तस्यां वयममित्रघ्न निवसामोऽकुतोभयाः
AI Translation: Even women would fight in that place, let alone the best of the Vrishni bulls. In that place, we live without fear, O slayer of enemies.
आलोक्य गिरिमुख्यं तं माधवीतीर्थमेव च माधवाः कुरुशार्दूल परां मुदमवाप्नुवन्
AI Translation: Having seen that chief of mountains and the Madhava Tīrtha, the Madhavas, O tiger among the Kurus, attained supreme joy.
एवं वयं जरासंधादादितः कृतकिल्बिषाः सामर्थ्यवन्तः संबन्धाद्भवन्तं समुपाश्रिताः
AI Translation: Thus we, who have committed sins from the beginning with Jarasandha, and who are capable, have resorted to you through our connection.
त्रियोजनायतं सद्म त्रिस्कन्धं योजनादधि योजनान्ते शतद्वारं विक्रमक्रमतोरणम् अष्टादशावरैर्नद्धं क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः
M. N. Dutt: At the intervals of each Yojana have been made one hundred gates, the heroism of the Vrishni heroes are the arches of these gates. They are always) protected by the heroes of the eighteen branches of the Yadavas.
अष्टादश सहस्राणि व्रातानां सन्ति नः कुले आहुकस्य शतं पुत्रा एकैकस्त्रिशतावरः
M. N. Dutt: There are eighteen thousand brothers and cousins in our race. Ahuka has been hundred sons, each of whom is like the best of the celestialss.
चारुदेष्णः सह भ्रात्रा चक्रदेवोऽथ सात्यकिः अहं च रौहिणेयश्च साम्बः शौरिसमो युधि
M. N. Dutt: Charudeshna with his brother Chakradeva, Satyaki, myself, the son of Rohini(Baladeva), Samba, as heroic as myself.
एवमेते रथाः सप्त राजन्नन्यान्निबोध मे कृतवर्मा अनाधृष्टिः समीकः समितिंजयः
M. N. Dutt: O king, these seven are Atirathas, Besides these there are others, whom I shall (Presently) mention. Kritavarma, Anadhrishti, Samika, Samitinajaya.
कह्वः शङ्कुर्निदान्तश्च सप्तैवैते महारथाः पुत्रौ चान्धकभोजस्य वृद्धो राजा च ते दश
M. N. Dutt: Kanka, Shanku, Kunti these seven are Maharathas. The old king Andhakabhoja has two sons, and the king himself, these ten (arc Maharathas).
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.58 After 58ab, S ins.: *159 प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धश्च भानुरक्रूरसारणौ निशठश्च गदश्चैव सप्त चैते महारथाः वितद्रुर्झल्लिबभ्रू च उद्धवोऽथ विडूरथः वसुदेवोग्रसेनौ च सप्तैते मन्त्रिपुंगवाः प्रसेनजिच्च यमलो राजराजगुणान्वितः स्यमन्तको मणिर्यस्य रुक्मं निस्रवते बहु
लोकसंहनना वीरा वीर्यवन्तो महाबलाः स्मरन्तो मध्यमं देशं वृष्णिमध्ये गतव्यथाः
M. N. Dutt: Possessing great prowess, all these heroes are as mighty as the thunderbolt. These Maharathas, choosing the middle country, now live among the Vrishnis.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.59 G1.2.6 M1 ins. an addl. colophon after 59; T1 G3-5 M2, after 160* (adhy. no.: 15). G1.2.6 M1 ins. after the above colophon: T1 G3-5 M2, after 59: *160 श्रीभगवान् पाण्डवैश्चापि सततं नाथवन्तो वयं नृप
स त्वं सम्राड्गुणैर्युक्तः सदा भरतसत्तम क्षत्रे सम्राजमात्मानं कर्तुमर्हसि भारत
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, O descendant of Bharata, you alone are worthy of becoming an emperor. You should establish your empire over all Kshatriyas.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.60 After 60, S ins.: *161 दुर्योधनं शांतनवं द्रोणं द्रोणायनिं कृपम् कर्णं च शिशुपालं च रुक्मिणं च धनुर्धरम् एकलव्यं द्रुमं श्वेतं शल्यं शकुनिमेव च एतानजित्वा संग्रामे कथं शक्नोषि तं क्रतुम् अथैते गौरवेणैव न योत्स्यन्ति नराधिपाः एकस्तत्र बलोन्मत्तः कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषा योत्स्यते स बलामर्षी दिव्यास्त्रबलगर्वितः
न तु शक्यं जरासंधे जीवमाने महाबले राजसूयस्त्वया प्राप्तुमेषा राजन्मतिर्मम
M. N. Dutt: O king, but it is my opinion that you will not be able to perform the Rajasuya (Sacrifice), so long the greatly powerful Jarasandha remains alive.
तेन रुद्धा हि राजानः सर्वे जित्वा गिरिव्रजे कन्दरायां गिरीन्द्रस्य सिंहेनेव महाद्विपाः
M. N. Dutt: Many kings have been kept imprisoned in Girivraja(his city), as dead carcasses of elephants are kept in the cave of a great mountains by the lion.
सोऽपि राजा जरासंधो यियक्षुर्वसुधाधिपैः आराध्य हि महादेवं निर्जितास्तेन पार्थिवाः
AI Translation: That king Jarasandha, desiring to perform a sacrifice, was defeated by the kings, and having propitiated the great god, the kings were defeated by him.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.63 N ins. after 63ab: G2.3, after 163*: *162 महादेवं महात्मानमुमापतिमरिंदम On the other hand, T1 G2-6 M ins. after 63ab: *163 अभिषिक्तैश्च राजन्यैः सहस्रैरुत चाष्टभिः After 63, N ins.: *164 प्रतिज्ञायाश्च पारं स गतः क्षत्रियपुंगवः
स हि निर्जित्य निर्जित्य पार्थिवान्पृतनागतान् पुरमानीय बद्ध्वा च चकार पुरुषव्रजम्
M. N. Dutt: By defeating all the kings, one after the other and their soldiers, he has brought them all as prisoners to his city; and he has thus daily swelled the crowd (of kings).
वयं चैव महाराज जरासंधभयात्तदा मथुरां संपरित्यज्य गता द्वारवतीं पुरीम्
M. N. Dutt: O great kings, we too from the fear of Jarasandha left Mathura and fled to the city of Dvaravati.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.65 After 65, S ins.: *165 निवसाम तथाद्यापि सधनज्ञातिबान्धवाः कंसहेतोर्हि यद्वैरं मागधस्य मया सह पारं गत्वा स तस्याजौ यियक्षुर्देवमुत्तमम्
यदि त्वेनं महाराज यज्ञं प्राप्तुमिहेच्छसि यतस्व तेषां मोक्षाय जरासंधवधाय च
M. N. Dutt: O great king, if you desire to perform the sacrifice, try to release those (the kings) kept prisoners by Jarasandha and try to kill him.
समारम्भो हि शक्योऽयं नान्यथा कुरुनन्दन राजसूयस्य कार्त्स्न्येन कर्तुं मतिमतां वर
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, O foremost of all intelligent men, if you do not try to do it, your undertaking can never be successful. If you wish to perform Rajasuya (sacrifice), you must do it.
Supplementary Passages:
2.13.67 After 67, S (G1 om.) ins.: *166 जरासंधवधोपायश्चिन्त्यतां भरतर्षभ तस्मिञ्जिते जितं सर्वं सकलं पार्थिवं बलम्
इत्येषा मे मती राजन्यथा वा मन्यसेऽनघ एवं गते ममाचक्ष्व स्वयं निश्चित्य हेतुभिः
M. N. Dutt: O king, O sinless one, this is my opinion. Do as you think (proper)after reflecting over everything, nothing the causes and effects of all. Tell us what you yourself think proper to do.